Lupita Nyong’o to Star in Adaptation of Trevor Noah’s Memoir ‘Born A Crime’

Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o will star in a film adaptation of Trevor Noah’s bestselling autobiography “Born A Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood.”

According to Deadline, the Black Panther star will play Noah’s mother, Patricia, who played an important role in the comedian’s development in his formative years. In 2009, Noah’s mother was shot in the head by his stepfather while returning from church, but survived.

Nyong’o took to social media on Wednesday (February 21) to announce the news of the upcoming role. “When I read [Trevor Noah]’s “Born A Crime,” I could not put the book down.” The actress wrote. “Excited to announce that I will be starring in and producing its film adaptation!”

As Deadline reports, the Daily Show host will be producing the film through his Ark Angel Productions banner alongside Nyong’o, Norman Aladjem (Black Jesus), Derek Van Pelt (Inside Amy Schumer), and Sanaz Yamin of Mainstay Entertainment.

Released in 2016, the bestselling book tells the story of Trevor Noah’s childhood in South Africa. Noah’s mother and his white father, Robert, were technically committing a crime when having Trevor – being that interracial marriage was against the law in apartheid South Africa. As a result, Noah was kept indoors during his childhood, out of fear that he will be taken by government forces. After its release, “Born A Crime” spent 26 weeks on the bestseller list and has won several awards including two NAACP Image Awards and the James Thurber Prize for American Humor.